My Secrets: Book Two in The Secret Series

Summary

Alise has uncovered a web of family secrets reading her mother’s journals that connect to the lives of those closest to her. Now she has to contend with her new career as Director of Global Charity at TG and the irresistible Tyler Moore, while harboring secrets of her own.

Tyler Moore is new in town and wants to make his mark on the world by becoming the new Director of Marketing at TG, but at the same time he wants Alise Addison with a passion he’s never known. Tyler becomes engrossed in Alise’s life as an old flame from her mother’s past returns to exact revenge, while also harboring a secret that threatens a relationship between them. Together Alise and Tyler are about to discover that every family has their secrets and some family secrets should stay hidden.

Excerpt from My Secrets: Book Two in The Secret Series“You’ve known about this for weeks! Alise, I trusted you and you lied to me! What else are you keeping from me?” He really didn’t want me to answer that question because it was a truckload of secrets. “As a matter of fact you know what don’t answer that! You were right. Your just like your mother!”

"The Secret Keeper holds the power to change everything. That’s why secrets must always be guarded, but when is a secret ever just a secret?" DJ Benz

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Prologue

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Tyler

Since graduation the marketing scene in Chicago has been good to me. I’ve been able to gain the respect of local agencies and freelance for an absurd amount of money, but I want more from life than just money.

Even though The Windy City has donned me Boy Wonder, it just doesn’t have the same appeal to me anymore, which is the reason why I’ve been considering new job offers. Every marketing agency within a 500-mile radius has been trying to land me. Until now, I’ve turned everyone down.

Thomas Global, or TG which is located in Cincinnati, Ohio is a booming business. I would have to be an idiot to turn down the CFO, Michael Addison’s offer. The COO, Jacob Thomas, and the CEO himself, David Jacob Thomas Jr made it a point to not only call me, but fly to Chicago to meet me in person as well. The Director of Human Resources, Will Pierce couldn’t make the trip up due to his mother’s illness. He’s been working remotely from New York to care for her, but even he pursued me. They all told me that TG was my destiny and I would thrive because I was destined for greatness. But most importantly, I would be treated like family. It was a great sales pitch and honestly, I was sold at treated like family.

I’ve done my research on TG and let me tell you, they have the lowest employee turnover that I have ever seen. TG seems to do everything in their power to keep employees for life. That knowledge within itself is amazing and speaks very highly of the company. Based on that merit alone I had to take the job, I would be nuts not too. But, if I’m being completely honest, life in Chicago is starting to get lonely.

My parents are here, but right now their enjoying early retirement. They’re currently traveling around the world and trying to hit all of their bucket list spots. I don’t blame them though because it was kind of a pain to constantly move around. I lost touch with the two best friends that I have ever had because of it. Granted, we were just kids, but Austin and Adam Ford were my brothers. It was nice for a while to not feel like an only child. Dad told me when I got older that they were unable to have more children, but they were more than happy with just me. Besides, my energy level made them feel as if they had more than one child.

After a few days of deliberation, I decided to stay close to my parents, so I took the job offer at TG. I’ll be the new Director of Marketing. The over the top job offer and the sweet title are not the only reasons I’m heading to Cincinnati. My boss’s super hot daughter is another reason, but he didn’t need to know that. It’s not my fault he dropped a picture of her while we were having a lunch meeting. I took one look at her picture and I knew I had to know her. And like a true stalker, Christian Grey style of course, I googled her and she was the total package. She was beautiful, intelligent, independent, and there was just something about her that called to me.

Several magazines have dubbed me as Boy Wonder Playboy because a few trashy magazines photo shopped pictures of my family and I, along with a few women I dated. At the time it gave me more notoriety, so I didn’t mind. But my mother sure did, and she let me know it on more than one occasion. Luckily, dad was around to help her see the voice of reason. Besides, you can’t really control what the media puts out there, so with that motto I just always remember who I really am, regardless of what they say about me. So then the question lies, who is the real Tyler Moore?

I’m just a typical hard-working guy with slightly nerdy tendencies. I spend most of my free time working out, playing sports, and watching movies. I also play movie trivia with my family and a few people on my intramural basketball and softball team. They’re not as interested in movie trivia as I am, but for my sake they all tend to just humor me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a total loser. I’ve gone out on my fare share of dates and hooked up; no girl has ever held my attention for long, or made me want to consider committing. But now, I have the strangest feeling that My Boss’s Daughter was going to change that.

Tonight, in Lake Forest, Illinois I was going to meet the girl of my dreams and she didn’t know it yet, but she was about to meet the guy of hers. I watched 50 First Dates one too many times and find it hilarious every time. So come on, can you really blame me for using that analogy?

Let’s just hope Alise thinks my movie knowledge is hot because the majority of girls I dated in the past thought that I was a total geek, trapped in a very good-looking package. Can you say vain much? I get it, we’re all attracted to a certain look, but I think you need to have something upstairs too. Intelligence is exactly what Alise Addison has, which makes her even sexier.

Every time I spoke with Mr. Addison he mentioned Alise to me and after a while, I started asking him questions about her. The stories made her sound so amazing and I couldn’t wait to meet her, so I really hope she likes me. I know the Boy Wonder Playboy lacking confidence is unheard of, but trust me if you’ve seen this girl, you would be too. I haven’t even met her and I’m already losing it, big time!

Now that I think about it, it was odd throughout the recruiting process how often Mr. Addison mentioned Alise to me. I don’t know, maybe it was just the pride of a father for his daughter? My mom and dad often still gloat about me and even though I’m 24-years-old, its still pretty embarrassing. But deep down, I know they mean well. In half a mile according to my Mustang’s navigation, I’ll arrive at my destination.

I just pulled my prized black upgraded 1967 Ford Mustang, Eleanor into the Thomas Manor driveway. Gone in 60 Seconds was an awesome movie, so I had to call my favorite girl Eleanor too. I’m hesitate to hand her over to the valet because it was the first car I bought for myself after doing a huge freelance marketing project for MAX Digital. It’s a company that develops cloud-based digital marketing and retailing software for the automotive industry. I have to say it was definitely my pleasure doing business with the company.

Eleanor, is my most prized possession and dad thinks it’s hilarious that it’s the only long-term relationship I’ve ever had. Well, I’m hoping tonight to change that. First, I have to hand my keys over to the valet whose eyes lit up like a Christmas tree when I pulled up.

I finally relented and handed my keys over to the drooling valet. I made him promise to take care of Eleanor. After he drove away I took a moment to just stare at Thomas Manor. The red brick exterior is mind-blowing and I bet its even more so on the interior. As a matter of fact, I better get inside before someone tries to steal my girl. Let’s be honest the One Direction song is pretty catchy and the line was appropriate to use. I’m looking forward to attending my first semi-annual TG Charity Ball because I’ve heard that the balls are spectacular.

I knocked on the door and I was greeted by the COO of Thomas Global, Jacob Thomas. For a guy that’s supposed to be in his mid-forties, he looks more like he’s closer to my age. I hope I age that well too.

Hello Tyler! We’ve been expecting you.

Hello Mr. Thomas! I’m excited to be here.

Oh please, no formalities. Just call me Jacob.

Okay…Jacob. That felt weird, but I’ll get use to it.

Come on in son, I’ll give you a tour. My little sister used to say that I gave the best tours, but really I think she was just humoring me. He chuckled at the memory. Then he stepped aside to let me enter.

That sounds great! Your place is amazing! I was really excited for a grand tour of Alise Addison and her room.

"Thank you and I’m sorry we don’t have a welcome wagon. Everyone is still getting ready. So, tell me all about Eleanor. I have a 1965 Shelby GT350."

"Okay and I’d love to hear about your Shelby." Jacob gave me a grand tour of Thomas Manor while we talked about our cars and its awesome! He took me to my very spacious room that’s equipped with it’s own bathroom and essentials. Apparently, I’m staying next to a gaggle of girls. It sounded like they were having a party in there. I’m really looking forward to vacationing here for the next few weeks. I put my luggage on the bed and decided to put my things away later, so that I could head straight to the ballroom. The aromas coming from that room were mouthwatering and I was starving.

In the ballroom Jacob introduced me to his hot supermodel wife Stacy, along with their adult twins Nathan and Claudia. His daughter was beautiful, but I was not interested, even after she told me that Uncle Michael was right, your perfect. Whatever that means?

I blew Claudia off as quickly as I could. However, briefly talking to her through me off my game. Claudia was…how can I say this without sounding like an ass…high-maintenance and slightly bitchy, so I feel for the guy that falls for her. In other words, her presence just made me forget what I was going to say to My girl, which is a cool movie by the way. We’ll definitely be watching that together, very soon. I thought it was one of Macaulay Culkin’s best performances, next to Home Alone of course. I crack up every time I see it.

After the ball I planned on watching a few flicks on my new MacBook Air, starting with Catching Fire. It’s my favorite movie of The Hunger Games franchise and I’m overdue for my monthly binge watching of the series. Katniss Everdeen was so hot sticking it to the other former victors. Here I go again, being a total geek about movies while I should be really focusing on my welcome speech. Mr. Addison, who has insisted that I call him Michael wants to formally introduce me this evening as the new Director of Marketing. In the meantime, I’ll hang around the ballroom.

Michael offered me his pool house to live in until I found a place in Cincinnati. The moving company is supposed to deliver my furniture sometime next week. For a single guy I don’t have much, but Michael assured me that the pool house is already fully furnished, so I’ll want for nothing. As you can see this family is completely over the top; hints, happy employees.

At the moment, I might want to consider going outside to get some fresh air because the women here are outrageous.

What the hell was I thinking to tweet that I was meeting a beautiful woman this evening? I’ve been at the TG Charity Ball for less than 25 minutes and I’ve already had several cougars, and beautiful girls hit on me, which let me know that they followed me on twitter.

Don’t get me wrong, I was flattered when each one of them told me that they were the beautiful girl I came to see, but little did they know, I already knew what my girl looked like. After the last girl walked away I finally spotted my girl and she’s even more stunning in person. I’m officially mustering up all the confidence I possess; by the end of the night she was not going to have any doubts of my intentions. Look out Alise Addison because you don’t know it yet, but I’m coming for you.

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Lucas

You’re such a disappointment! You squandered your trust fund and NFL contract on whores and boozes. You’re not getting another penny from me or your mother! That bitch may have divorced me, but I still own her ass! You should have married that Thomas girl after high school just like I told you. She would have been your meal ticket when your career went down the drain, but instead you screwed that up for what, a hot supermodel along with a few other lousy lays. Now look at you…you have nothing, and no one! Don’t ever call me again to bail you out! This is the last time. Your mother and I are done with you. Have a nice life! He turned his back on me and walked out the door.

Screw you! I don’t need you either! I freaking hate my father! That arrogant bastard is the major reason that I’m this way! He’s the one that taught me to take what you want in life and I have done nothing but that my entire life. Nothing was ever off limits for The Golden Boy and because of that I screwed up again.

My father has made it his life’s mission to constantly bring up Elizabeth Thomas. That bitch! I spent over a year trying to get into her pants and when I finally did senior year she got pregnant, and killed my baby. I didn’t really want it, but whatever, that’s not the point! The point is she could have kept it because her family is loaded. They would have helped her and that damn baby would have been my ticket back into her life.

I tried to get her back after I dumped her, but that high and mighty bitch would not take me back, as if she had something better. So maybe I’m not a Michael freaking Addison, CFO of Thomas Global, but whatever, I bet I was way better in the sack than he ever was. It doesn’t matter now because he doesn’t have her either. She’s dead! But I don’t care! She still owes me and one way or another, I’ll get mine!

After reconnecting with an old friend I may have found a way to get what I want. I heard Elizabeth has a hot daughter that’s all grown up. If I can get into her pants, then that family will have no choice, but to let me back in. It’ll be the sweetest revenge to that dead bitch and her high and mighty father that she took after. Look out Alise Addison because you don’t know it yet, but I’m coming for you.

Chapter 1: First Sight

Alise

I spent the first month of the summer in Lake Forest running several miles a day to completely exhaust myself after learning my mother’s secrets. I didn’t have the heart to share with Marilyn or Sasha what was going on with me, but like the true friends they are, they stood by me everyday to let me know that I was not alone. Everyday when they ran with me they chanted our motto. They were truly the sisters of my heart.

Dad even came out from time to time to run with me. On day 26 he broke his silence. Alise, I don’t know what’s going on with you, and I know you’ll tell me when your ready, but trust me everything will work itself out. Life has a way of bringing people into your life when you need them the most. I thought that was pretty wise, but also a weird thing for dad to say. After that dreadful month I decided not to acknowledge my mother’s secrets anymore and just try to enjoy the rest of the summer.

I decided not to date for a while because I just didn’t want to add any baggage to a relationship, nor did I really want to be in one at the moment. But apparently appearing not to be available, just made guys think I wanted to be hit on. I should have just plastered a neon sign on my forehead that said, Not dating instead.

With my youthful appearance I even had a few high school boys ask me out and I kindly let them know that I was too old for them. One kid, Jay Sanchez actually made me show him my I.D. to prove that I wasn’t just trying to blow him off, so I obliged. Jay froze when he saw my name and made me promise not to tell his dad that he hit on me. Otherwise, his dad, none other than Joey Sanchez would kill him for sure.

Joey told Jay stories about all the mischief that him, my mother, and Aunt Gwen would get into. Growing up Joey was always so nice to me when I ran into him. After my mother died he sent us a bouquet of light pink roses and a note that meant a lot to my family. From then on he gave me that sad look that most people give me when I can tell that they’re thinking about my mother. The Sanchez family hadn’t been to Lake Forest in a long time.

The summer before my sophomore year was the first time Joey had spoken to me since my mother died. I was practicing my jump shot at the Lake Forest Country Club and he gave me some pointers on how to improve it. It’s the major reason my high school team won the division title along with the state championship, but maybe he was only nice to me because he had a fling with my mother. Since that summer I haven’t seen much of him. After spending too much time reminiscing about the past, I decided that I wasn’t going to allow myself to be sad anymore. I was just going to focus on my future.

After tonight’s Charity Ball I only had two weeks left and then adulthood would really begin, so it was truly time I said goodbye to my childish ways. Who am I kidding? I can’t forget my childhood even if I tried, nor my mother’s secrets because sooner or later they were bound to be discovered. For now, I would do everything in my power to keep them hidden for as long as I possibly could, even if it costs me my relationships with my family and friends. Enough hurt had already been dished out.

Tonight was the semi-annual TG Charity Ball at Thomas Manor and I was getting dressed in my room with Sasha, Marilyn, and Aunt Gwen. Aunt Gwen made Marilyn and Sasha two of the most beautiful dresses that I had ever seen, but she said that mom’s black dress will always be her best design. It’s the one that